Posts Tagged ‘Hollywood and Vine’

Would you believe that the ghost of actor Lon Chaney once played a prominent role in a heated controversy at the Los Angeles City Council? It’s true. It seems that Chaney’s ghost was reportedly seen sitting on a public bench at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Then in October 1942, Chaney’s bench disappeared and his ghost no longer was seen. Whether anything paranoral played a role in the mysterious disappearance of the bench are questions that councilman Norris Nelson was demanding.

The reputed visitation of the ghost was mentioned at a Council meeting by Nelson as he announced he was against granting permits to various businesses to place benches, painted with colored advertisements, on street corners or in the middle of the block.

The Lon Chaney Bench that Councilman Norris Nelson placed on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Vine where Chaney’s ghost was reportedly seen. Lon Chaney Jr. is at the far left.

Before he became a councilman, Nelson claimed that he put an ornamental iron bench on the northeast corner of Hollywood and Vine and there it remained for fifteen years (see photo above).

“Lon Chaney used to sit on that bench and wait for a bus when he was an extra boy,” declared Nelson. “When he became a star he used to drive by it and pick up poor devils who were still extras: after he died his ghost was reported seen sitting on the bench and finally a spot was reserved for the ghost and nobody ever sat in it.”

Nelson indicated that his bench was becoming famous when one morning, only a few weeks before, he noticed that it had vanished and in its place was another that had an advertisement for a certain brand of cigars that sold for two for 5 cents.

Unfortunately the results of the City Councils decision was never made public. Evidently Norris failed in his attempts because benches with advertisements have been placed around Los Angeles ever since.

Laemmle Building Demolished!

Demolition of the Laemmle Building last Friday

By Allan R. Ellenberger

The historic Laemmle Building on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Vine was demolished last Friday. Preservationists contend that the tearing down of the building, built by Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle in 1932, is federally illegal. The building has been vacant since it was damaged in an unsolved arson fire in April.

The intersection of Hollywood and Vine has been famous since the 1930s because many of Hollywood’s important radio stations were located nearby. “Brought to you from Hollywood and Vine” was a familiar opening to many early radio broadcasts.

The Laemmle Building in the 1950s

Carl Laemmle, paid the George W. Hoover (builder of the Hollywood Hotel) estate $350,000 for the property in 1925. At the time, that was the highest price paid for real estate in Hollywood (the lot sold for $15,000 in 1912). In 1928 Laemmle refused a $1,000,000 offer for the corner.

Originally Laemmle planned to build a 900-seat theater and office building valued at $250,000. At some point in mid 1932 revisions were made to build a one story building with foundation specifications for additional stories to be added later (which never came about). Designed by famed architect, Richard Neutra in the International Style, construction began in September 1932, and was completed early the following year.

The Laemmle Building fire last April 30th

At the time of the April fire, the building housed the Basque Nightclub and Restaurant, a popular celebrity hangout. Actress Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 21st birthday there and rap star Kanye West partied there earlier in April. Scenes from the movie Ocean’s Eleven were filmed there and the property had recently been sold as part of a renovation renaissance in Hollywood.

While many historic buildings have been saved from destruction in Hollywood (and many more have been lost), the sudden demolition of the Laemmle Building questions the commitment of city officials on preservation issues in Los Angeles.

Capitol Records fears for its sound from Hollywood project

Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

Excavation would occur just feet away from famed echo chambers beneath the Hollywood tower. EMI is appealing an approval of the project as recording pros fret.

By Bob Pool, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 18, 2008

They were singing the blues in the legendary Studio A at Hollywood’s Capitol Records tower.

“Losing this place would be a big deal. There’s nothing better than this anywhere in the world,” said recording engineer Al Schmitt.

Schmitt, a 19-time Grammy winner, was standing over the banquet-table-size mixing board in the Vine Street studio’s control room. Punching a button on the console, he played back a silky smooth track recorded minutes earlier by jazz singer Roberta Gambarini. The sound was flawless.

Those involved in Hollywood’s thriving music scene fear that’s about to change. READ MORE

Hollywood and Vine:

A History

by Allan R. Ellenberger

Arguably the most famous intersection in the world, Hollywood and Vine sometimes disappoints tourists who search it out. Yesterday’s fire at the intersections northwest corner made me think about its history. The intersection first became famous in the 1930s because many of Hollywood’s important radio stations were located nearby. “Brought to you from Hollywood and Vine” was a familiar opening to many early radio broadcasts.

Historic 1920s office buildings are located on three of its corners. On the northeast corner is the Equitable Building (1929), a Gothic Deco commercial building, designed by Aleck Curlett. The B. H. Dyas building (1927) on the southwest corner at one time housed The Broadway-Hollywood department store. It’s famous sign still stands on its roof. And on the southeast corner is the Taft Building (1923), by architects Walker & Eisen in the Renaissance Revival style. This building once housed offices for Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, Hedda Hopper, Photoplay magazine and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On the northwest corner is the building devasted by yesterdays fire. At first glance it may not be mistaken for a Hollywood landmark, however, it was built in 1932-1933 by Universal founder, Carl Laemmle and bore his name (Laemmle Building) for many years. Designed by famed architect, Richard Neutra in the International Style, the building has been altered many times over the decades (beginning in 1940) and no longer retains any of its original features.

Below are photos from the Laemmle Buildings past:

Vine Street at Hollywood Blvd. in 1907. The house on the left is the

approximate location of the Laemmle Building

The former Laemmle Building in the 1950s

The Laemmle Building’s (left) incarnation as a Howard Johnson’s Restaurant

The former Laemmle Building in the 1990s

Currently, the building housed the Basque Nightclub and Restaurant(6263 Hollywood Blvd.), a popular celebrity hangout. Actress Lindsay Lohan recently celebrated her 21st birthday at Basque and rap star Kanye West partied there earlier in April. Scenes from the movie Ocean’s Eleven were filmed there and the property had recently been sold as part of a renovation renaissance in Hollywood.

As the intersection appeared yesterday morning (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Sadly, the 75 year-old Laemmle Building’s future is unclear. It’s not known at this time if the building is a total loss and will be demolished or if it can be saved. Once it’s fate is known, it will be reported here.

Crews battle building fire at Hollywood and Vine

A large commercial building on the famed intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in the heart of rapidly renovating Hollywood is in flames this morning, authorities said, creating a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.

Firefighters were sent to the 6200 block of Hollywood Boulevard about 5:30 a.m., said d’Lisa Davies of the Los Angeles Fire Department. About 30 minutes into the battling the flames, firefighters had to exit the building, so they are not sure if it’s a one- or two-story structure, Davies said.

Crews are using aerial ladders to pour water on the flames from above and working to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings.

“We do have firefighters on three sides of the building to protect the nearby businesses,” Davies said. Fire is on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Vine, in the center of numerous high-end redevelopment projects underway such as the new W hotel and residences. The building involved is home to Basque, a nightclub and restaurant.

The building on fire has not been declared a total loss yet but has been deemed as “under demolition,” Davies said.

In addition to trying to protect the buildings nearby, crews were dousing the area underneath a billboard on top of the building to prevent it from collapsing.

There are no initial reports of injuries 90 minutes into the firefight, Davies said.

Forty-foot flames could be seen shooting through the roof by early morning commuters nearby.

Traffic was was routed away from the area, Davies said, adding the Hollywood Freeway is slowing as some people watch the flames.

“It should be a while, we’re still trying to get to the base of the fire,” Davies said.